“Based on analysis of Tennessee patients, a range for development of symptoms is six to 42 days  and some experts believe vigilance for up to three months will be necessary, Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner said.

That recommendation comes out of an abundance of caution, he said.

Previously, the incubation period had been estimated at two to 28 days

I spent a week in quaranteen with meningitus in 1988. Actually died and came back again. It was the most painful experience in my life as it felt as though someone had both my eyes in a vise and were squeezing them to make them pop. Felt as though my head was going to explode. I would never wish this experience on anyone.

There are several types of meningitus. Some bacterial, some viral, and now fungal is in the news. Here are the comments on the three from web MD:

Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is an extremely serious illness that requires immediate medical care. If not treated quickly, it can lead to death within hours — or lead to permanent damage to the brain and other parts of the body.

Bacterial meningitis is caused by any one of several bacteria. Neisseria meningitidis or “meningococcus” is common in children and young adults, and Streptococcuspneumoniae or “pneumococcus” is another common cause in children and adults. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was a common cause of meningitis in infants and young children until the Hib vaccine was introduced for infants. Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae account for most of the bacterial meningitis cases in the U.S. Vaccines are available for both Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae. They’re recommended for all children and adults at special risk.

The bacteria can spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. If you are around someone who has bacterial meningitis, contact your doctor to ask what steps you need to take to avoid infection.

In many instances, bacterial meningitis develops when bacteria get into the bloodstream from the sinuses, ears, or other part of the upper respiratory tract. The bacteria then travel through the bloodstream to the brain.

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is more common than the bacterial form and generally — but not always — less serious. It can be triggered by a number of viruses, including several that can cause diarrhea.

People with viral meningitis are much less likely to have permanent brain damage after the infection resolves. Most will recover completely.

Fungal Meningitis

Fungal meningitis is much less common than the other two infectious forms. Fungus-related meningitis is rare in healthy people. However, someone who has an impaired immune system is more likely to become infected with this form of meningitis.

“Boston is widely recognized as being the medical capital of the world ...”

I apologize in advance if offensive, but although Boston clearly has some great hospitals and docs, the idea that it is the medical capital of the world is just not accurate anymore. Actually, the idea that there is a medical capital of the world is not accurate anymore. I’ve seen some very marginal medical care and decision making at some of the ‘best’ hospitals with name recognition, and some great care and outstanding decision making by docs working at private hospitals with no name recognition.

The other fact that many people aren’t aware of is that medical school rankings are in large measure based on NIH research dollars - not some estimation of patient care.

That said, there are most definitely some of the best hospitals in the world in Boston.

Diagnostic testing for meningitis is thru cerebrospinal fluid, not blood, but it’s carried in the blood. I’m not familiar with the treatment & all the testing of donated blood. A handful of infectious diseases are screened for in every donation (meningitis not included). I know some blood is cultured, but I don’t know if it’s routine for every donation.
I think the Red Cross updates screening for infectious diseases as outbreaks warrant it.

As a native Bostonian born with a slight orthopedic defect, I can attest to the truth of that, especially Children's.

In the early 70's I was still a doped hippy with very bad teeth.

I approached Harvard School of Dentistry and became Virgil Smith's graduating thesis (he was the senior assigned to me and he assisted with extractions and built my first set of dentures) ... all gratis, 'cause 'the system' was in place and I had learned how to 'politic'.

Boston is actually a kalidescopic Disneyland of humanity;

I forget the exact number, but I remember reading (a long time ago) that there were something like 350 institutions of higher education .. college, junior college, university, etc. in a 25 mile radius ... or something like that ... and every September the youth of the world descends on Boston to go to school .... and to the young and horny single guy ....

I don't miss Boston now because I'm too old for the pace, but if I was still younger ................

16
posted on 10/14/2012 6:14:50 AM PDT
by knarf
(I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)

The reason I asked is that all Talk shows on Fox and CNN, with Medical advice segments, have insisted that the only way to get this fungal meningitis is thru the injection. They never mentioned blood donors. This is not an issue for me personally, just curiosity.

17
posted on 10/14/2012 6:24:05 AM PDT
by duckman
(I'm part of the group pulling the wagon!)

I’ve been researching the fungi that is causing the meningitis and found that it is normally found in the soil and that it causes corn root rot and corn leaf blight. Wouldn’t it be odd if this new strain resulted from a common fungi interacting with the genetically modified corn plants thus causing new symptoms in humans. Total unfounded speculation on my part as it was just a thought that came to me while researching it.

“The New England Compounding Center was masquerading as a compounding pharmacy so it could escape federal regulation when it was actually operating as a drug manufacturer,” said Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., who sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the FDA.

That is not all that Massachusetts is contributing though. Tragically, a Framingham, Mass.-based compounding pharmacy has distributed Meningitis-contaminated steroid syringes that have killed 14 and sickened 184 Americans.

And now the States politics and the purveyor of those killer syringes are intersecting. Thats because on September 4, the Senate candidate, Scott Brown, received a $10,000 campaign contribution at the Southborough, Mass. home of Gregory Conigliaro, a co-owner of New England Compounding Center (NECC)  a so-called compounding pharmacy that was sending controlled substances to clinics, veterinarians, and other health facilities, according to the Boston Globe.

That $10,000 came six weeks after Brown co-signed a July 24 letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that argued in favor of a top legislative priority of the compounding pharmacy industry, according to the Globe. Browns campaign claimed it would donate that $10,000 to the Meningitis Foundation of America a week after the Meningitis-infected needles were traced to NECC.

I live in Central NY State, and had two lumbar blocks, one in July, and one in August. I also had an injection in my sacroiliac on Oct. 1st. I’m supposed to have another lumbar block on the 26th of this month, but since all of this crap has come out, I’m canceling. There have been no reports of infection at the one-day surgery clinic I get the injections at, but I figure, why tempt fate. Besides, the injections haven’t really helped me.

23
posted on 10/14/2012 9:25:12 AM PDT
by mass55th
(Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)

I agree with you. Once you get into a Boston medical facility you'll probably make out OK but on the way in you'll pick up pathogens on the streets of Boston you won't find anywhere else. Actually, just walking across the state line into Massachusetts will do it.

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